Aldeadávila de la Ribera (Salamanca) (0)

Did you know that... Aldeadávila de la Ribera

It is located in the northwest of the province of Salamanca, within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park and bordering Portugal. Together with Aldeadávila de la Ribera, Corporario and Salto de Aldeadávila form the municipality. Although the area seems to have been inhabited since the Neolithic period, the first references to the town date back to the 3rd century and it is named Aldea Dauila, just as Darios is the name given to the current Corporario. There are remains of a road from its Roman era. This is where the Arabs came and settled. After the reconquest of the place by the Kingdom of León, the repopulation of the area is carried out basing its development on the formation of many villages and very close to each other.

A little more history

The first written document naming Aldeadávila is from the 13th century. During the second half of the 15th century the town experienced great prosperity but it had to wait until the 18th century, when Aldeadávila belonged to the Order of Santiago, to receive the title of villa. The War of Independence was also felt, as there were important and numerous revolts against the French army from Aldeadávila to Vitigudino. When in the 19th century the current provinces were created, Aldeadávila was within the Region of León.

What to see in Aldeadávila de la Ribera?

The visit to Aldeadávila de la Ribera must be taken calmly, slowly. Walk through its ancient streets with names as medieval as the Cilla, Remoria, Atalaya, Peñas ...You can also admire the typical architecture of the houses that surround palaces such as the Marqués de Caballero, from the 18th century, or the El Pozo family, from the end of the 18th century; the church of San Salvador, which was originally the convent of the tower-fortress from the 13th century, which was annexed in the 16th century; or the hermitages of La Santa, known as Nuestra Señora de las Huertas, San Sebastián or Santo Cristo del Humilladero, the latter from the 17th century.

Follow the visit

On the slope of the canyon of the Duero River, a short distance from Aldeadávila, the Poblado del Salto de Aldeadávila awaits us, known as the Poblado de La Verde or Santa Marina, where we can see up close the Aldeadávila dam, one of those that form part of the hydroelectric system known as the Saltos del Duero and also admire the Convent of La Verde and one of the oldest churches in the country. By small hiking routes, or by road, we will reach some beautiful corners of the natural environment of Aldeadávila de la Ribera, places of essential visit that will make us keep in the retina spectacular views that the Duero River offers us in its flow through the canyon.

To discover

If we are lucky we will see flying above our heads the black stork, the eagle azor partridge, the griffon vulture, the alimoche, the golden eagle... The Picón de Felipe or the one of the Fraile are the two most famous viewpoints over the Duero of which Aldeadávila de la Ribera makes a proud display, and it is not for less, but we can also approach the one of Rupitín and Lastrón. And for rest and relaxation what better than the park of Llano de la Bodega or the artificial beach of El Rostro, or perhaps an attractive river walk.

Festivities

Aldeadávila de la Ribera celebrates its patron saint San Bartolomé on 24 August. Corporario celebrates the feast in honour of San Blas on February 3rd.

Traditions

In Aldeadávila de la Ribera on Easter Sunday a country festival is held called Día de Rodar el huevo (Day of the Egg Roll). The aldeavilucos come to it carrying a boiled egg that they roll around on the floor until the shell is broken. The party continues in the afternoon with a snack in which the typical sweet hornazo stuffed with charcuterie is tasted and accompanied by a good wine of the Arribes Denomination of Origin.

Curiosities

The small village of Salto de Aldeadávila, better known as Santa Marina or La Verde, has existed since the 12th century when a group of hermits arrived at the La Verde Convent. After some time of abandonment and due to the construction of the Aldeadávila Dam, the location of the convent was taken advantage of to build a village next to the dam where they could give shelter to their workers. This impressive work of engineering and the natural beauty of its surroundings have been the setting chosen for scenes from famous films such as Doctor Zhivago, with the impressive image of the dam when it is pouring water; or La Cabina, in which the hydroelectric station appears, as well as the galleries, the road and the esplanade of the Great Vault.

The Legend

Legend has it that the fortress tower of Aldeadávila de la Ribera was built by the Moors and that once it was finished, the Arab chieftain who ordered it to be built wanted to check whether the whole environment could be seen from it and after climbing the endless spiral staircase that gave access to the top of the tower, He peered out and was so dizzy that he vanished into the void and crashed at the foot of the tower making a sharp crack in a smooth slab of the ground; that same slab became his grave. History or legend, but the truth is that on the pavement of the town square, where the Moor's tomb is located, as it is known by the local people, human remains have been found, and it is said that when they wanted to remove those skulls and teeth, they were so fixed to the ground that they could not be unearthed and that to this day they are still there.

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